10 December 2011

It has just gone out of Sants in AVE with his wife and a member of security of the club.
The doctors commented that the second of Pep was preferable to traveling by train.

The assistant coach of FC Barcelona, ​​Tito Vilanova , will finally be on the bench at the Bernabeu , as anticipated Mundo Deportivo . Pep Guardiola's assistant just taken from the Sants station in Barcelona a TGV bound for the capital, accompanied by his wife, Montse, and Robles, a member of the security department of the club.

Tito has been on a train because doctors advised them not to do so by plane with the rest of the expedition Barca, who will depart the airport of El Prat at 11 hours. The coach has done everything possible and impossible to be with the team in a match of the importance of this clásico, in which there are half a league game.

Remember that Vilanova was operated in the parotid gland in the Hospital de la Vall d'Hebron on November 22 , which was discharged from hospital almost a week later and did not return that day to day with the group until the training last Wednesday in a very emotional day for all staff.

The coach will also return to Barcelona in AVE tomorrow, since the doctors have prohibited him that it traveled to Japan, where the team azulgrana will remain from its arrival to Tokyo tomorrow night until the next one December 19 for the celebration of the Club World Cup. (via MD)

The directive responsible for the institutional area "even defends of the prestige of the players in the worst in the cases after the game of Madrid."

The vice-president of the institutional area of Barça, Carles Vilarrubí, yesterday expressed a feeling probably shared by thousands of Barcelona: "whatever happens at the Bernabeu, the fans do not come back around the team," commented on the consequences of a defeat in Madrid .

"The pressure is minimal and illusion, maximum," the vice president in the Rac-1 microphones.

"This team has already shown all as the coach himself has said on more than one occasion," he explained, "even in the worst case will not lose any credibility as a team or as a group, practicing excellence. Will remain the best equipment and the best coach in the world. It is true that this year the challenge is greater, but no one will doubt this squad. " Barça, according to the institutional vice president, go to the Bernabeu, backed by their latest results, not only in Chamartín but in terms of titles won in the `was Guardiola ¿. "Get the result you serve, this team has all the credit."

The atmosphere before the game, in any case much more relaxed than in the clásicos carousel April. "We came to pass a very difficult time because there were too clásicos for those bad vibes. That was unfortunate, there was bad feeling because conditions were very unpleasant, but fortunately we now live a normal time, "said Vilarrubí.

The vice president insisted that now "there are no" tensions of previous months "or at least not so evident," though he added that relations between clubs, Barcelona and Madrid should only aspire to "mutual respect" as institutions world-class. "Nor do I mean much more, be educated, have a logical relationship and a stable institutional relationship. So last year, failed, "he said.

The directives will meet today for lunch at the Ritz hotel in Madrid "in an atmosphere of absolute normality", while a parallel call will also meet women executives to share a table and tablecloth.

Also, note that Vilarrubí joked one of his tasks is to "translate the general feeling of the president and the policy in relation to other clubs, including Real Madrid, so I'm the 'errand boy politics does institutional club. " The executive also defended the position taken by the board last year, when reacted with caution to environment attacks Real Madrid. (via SPORT)

The FC Barcelona project began in Argentina back in 2007 will better life. There will be no more from next year ...

Contract expires and FC Barcelona will not be renewed. Simple as that. You ventured this end. The project was launched in 2007 under the economic boost the then vice president Ferran Soriano and sporting and technical secretary Txiki Begiristain for economic reasons, has decided to give it to an end.

In this perspective and from the success of last week the new president Daniel Angelici, has gotten into the project Boca Juniors, who believes that what has made the FC Barcelona is awesome and should be continued.

The question is: How is everything? On paper, the kids with the most potential will go to the Boca Juniors' cabtera through an agreement with FC Barcelona percentages. The other kids will be shared by different clubs in the country, also agreements involving the Catalan team, which retains options and future transfers part depending on the amount of operations.

As Lujan Barcelona facilities in San Justo, from 2012 will become occupied by the cantera of Boca Juniors. In other words, the lower divisions of the body will they come back to Boca Juniors 'place where sports was the city of Boca de Diego Armando Maradona and Hugo Orlando Gatti, called 'La Candela'.

The truth is that Boca, just proclaimed Argentine champion, wants to imitate the ranks at Barça. That is the goal. In charge of youth football will be Hugo Ibarra, exfutbolista Espanyol, and Jorge Raffo, who has been Barcelona sports director in Argentina.

El clásico is already here. As always, Barça will go out with audacity and will force Madrid to give the best thing of themselves.

FC Barcelona is ahead of the best football team has had throughout its history. We are a group of players, led by Pep Guardiola, have succeeded in these four years, becoming a benchmark worldwide.

Do not we say, say it has been receiving awards that season after season without ceasing, too, the independent opinion of players, coaches and media. This club has achieved excellence through its own personality, offering win passes for entertainment, for betting on football attractive, brave. One way of being that has become a philosophy of life.

In this boat of the twelve titles of fifteen possible until today, in just three years and a few months, so that care more about the background, the way that goal. This team never betrayed its principles.

So, being as it is, has become a reference for lovers of this sport. And that's the reason why members and supporters of FC Barcelona and its legion of fans, know that tonight, no matter what happens at the Santiago Bernabeu, Barça is Barça. And that's plenty.
We will see a championship team, the defending champions to a group of brave and daring players who will go for the party, the three points, without fear and without traps. No kicking, and without falling into foul play and slumming.

Witnessed a hungry Barca goal, knowing that to beat a great opponent such as Real Madrid's all about quality, having more of the ball and make the ball run, drive and always be Barca.

Precisely because this is one of the best Real Madrid's all-time has more merit what you are getting this generation of players. It is true that today is three points away (with one more game) and it depends on what happens tonight, the League may become very difficult for Barca interests.

But neither is it written that this boat is going to lose or that even losing the title have to say goodbye. The trophies are won in May and until that day there is still a long way to go. To say that the cycle of this template can pass out depending on the outcome of this night is so illogical as to say that Real Madrid will win it all.

It is true that statistics is not much less when there is in el clásico game, but something will know that Mourinho has never won at Barcelona in the Bernabeu. Or put another way, Pep has not ever lost in the white house. You can always be a first time and sooner or later come, because it is law of life. However, Barcelona has an obligation to stand by this team, its players, its coaching staff.
The credit for this triumph Barça should be unlimited, because he has earned in the field of battle, so that it has done its partners and enjoy the world of football in general. Not won three consecutive league titles and two Champions League, among other titles, by chance. Trust them ... They will not disappoint. Sure ...

One of the great differences that occurred between Barca and Real in recent times has been that the set of Pep has managed to lose. He proved in Valencia in the final of the Copa del Rey. A noble behavior. The entire planet has been seen how he has spent Mourinho and his men when they have lost. Also it can relax. Win, lose or draw, the Barcelona players will do so with their heads held high, sportsmanship and lordship. And on top win ... (via SPORT)

wo points escape Barça B in the last minute of the game against Almería at the Miniestadi. The game was even and both teams had many chances to score. Jonathan Soriano, Riverola and Tello were Barça’s goal scorers.

Some of the Barça B players played for the first team this Tuesday in the Champions League, and against a powerful Almería side, it was almost as if the brilliance of the European competition had rubbed off on the whole team. In a thrilling and open match, a solo goal from Jonathan Soriano gave way to a heart-stopping second half, with a an exchange of blows that would leave both sides with three goals apiece - the last of which was scored by the visitors in the last minute of the game.

Even though many fresh faces made up Barça B’s starting line-up, nothing unusual for Eusebio Sacristan’s side, the team was determined to take the initiative of the match from the start. The first chances of the match were Barça’s thanks to an omnipresent Cristian Tello down the right wing. Little by little, however, Almería came into its own and started to show why they are considered condenters for promotion with three clear chances on Masip’s goal before the half. Almería’s best chance was through Ulloa, who stuck his chip shot a bit too hard and narrowly missed.

The flow of the game suggested that Barça had the better start and that Almería was slowly gaining ground. It wasn’t until Soriano grabbed the rebound from Amlería’s keeper, Esteban, and rifled the ball into the net in the last minute of the first half that the deadlock was broken. The goal foreshadowed what was to come in the second half.

At the start of the second half, Almería reacted with two goals from Fernando Soriano, albeit, his second was a bit fortunate (min. 68). Gerard Deulofeu revolutionised the game when he came on two minutes after Amlería’s second goal. It wasn’t long after that Riverola brought Barça back on level terms with the visitors. The goal was almost identical to Barça’s first. Shortly after, Barça took the lead through a brilliant Tello. With little time left on the clock and enjoying chances that could have put the game beyond reach, Barça B had done its work. But lady luck turned her back on the team in the dying moments of the game. A goal from Aarón in the 89th minute meant that Barça B would have to share the points after a vibrant and spectacular second half. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Barça manager said that the only thing he asked his players was “to be bold and to interpret the game”. He also said that in the past couple of days the technical staff has been focused on maximising their understanding of Madrid and their possible tactical variations.

With a little more than 24 hours to go before the clásico at the Bernabéu, Pep Guardiola attended the pre-match press conference at the Camp Nou and explained how Barça plans to face Madrid. “I haven’t told the players anything new from past years. I haven’t asked for anything special. I’ve only asked them to be bold and to interpret the game ... We’ve always gone there with the intention of being ambitious and winning the match. Without being bold you cannot hope do to well.”

At the same time, Guardiola indicated that the team must maximise its effort at the Bernabéu: “We must defend well, have good transitions, move the ball around well, find spaces, and be attentive and quick ... even with all of this we must be sharp.” The manager said that in past few days the technical staff has been focused “on maximising their understanding of Madrid and their possible tactical variations.” Guardiola also said that Tito Vilanova will decide if he will travel with the team tomorrow to Madrid.

In regards to tomorrow’s rival, Pep Guardiola considers that “they have improved on their positioning on the pitch.” He also believes that Madrid plans to play similarly to previous clásicos: “I think they will come out to pressure high up the pitch, they’ve done well in the past with this strategy, but we will be ready for any situation.” He added: “Last year we played against each other five times. I haven’t forgotten what happened then or in the Super Cup. We know each other well and we have to play a near perfect game to beat them.”

Logically, the manager declined to reveal his line-up for tomorrow, but he did say: “They [the squad] are all doing perfectly well, they are ready and mentally prepared. What I do have decided is how we are going to play.”

Finally, Guardiola said: “Whoever is behind always needs it a little bit more. It’s obvious that we have a lot to play for. The game won’t be definitive, but it is important. If you aren’t aware of the importance of a match at the Barnabéu, it’s difficult to come away with anything positive.” (via FCBarcelona.cat)

0 first team players and Barça B’s Isaac Cuenca and Montoya trained this afternoon at the Camp Nou. The team will travel to Madrid on Saturday.

Just like they did last season, Barça finished their final closed-door training session at the Camp Nou ahead of the Clásico at the Bernabéu. Guardiola had 20 first team players at his disposal plus the youngsters from the B side, Isaac Cuenca and Montoya. Adriano, who was declared fit after Wednesday’s training session, trained without any problems with his teammates.

Tito Vilanova was also at the session. The assistant coach returned to the training session this Wednesday after a successful surgery on his partoid glad on November 22nd.

The only absentee was Ibrahim Afellay, who will continue his recuperation programme in the Netherlands when the team leaves for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Barça and Madrid were also the highest scorers in the Champions League group stages, with 20 and 19 goals respectively. For the last 17 years, every clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu has produced at least two goals.

The league table makes it patently clear that Barça and Madrid are the strongest sides in the competition. They've scored 96 goals between them, 49 for Madrid and 47 for Barça, 15 more than the next four teams, Valencia, Levante, Sevilla and Malaga, have managed between them in total.

And the two sides are led by phenomenal goalscorers in Messi and Cristiano, who have 17 goals each and form the basis for both team's attacking strategies.

In the 15 games FCB have played in this season's Liga, they have scored three or more goals on eight occasions. At the Camp Nou they have been especially powerful, averaging 3.1 goals a game.

Madrid have managed to do slightly better, with an average of 3.5 goals a game, with nine particularly impressive wins in the 14 games they have played to date. They are also strongest at home, for the Santiago Bernabéu has witnessed an average of 4.6 goals a game, and 28 in total. Víctor Valdés has the best goalkeeping record in the league so far, having conceded just seven goals, but he will clearly have a particularly tough job keeping Madrid at bay on Saturday might.

The Champions League group stage was concluded this week, and Barça and Madrid were also the highest goalscoring teams in that competition. Barça scored the most, 20, and only leaked four. Madrid conceded even fewer, just two, and scored 18 of their own.

Since 1994/95, games at the Santiago Bernabéu between Madrid and Barça have guaranteed goals. In fact, there have been at least two goals in every game played since then, including some truly remarkable scorelines, such as 2-3 (1997-98), 0-3 (2005-06) and the historic 2-6 (2008-09). The all-whites have also had some famous wins, such as 5-0 (1994-95), 3-0 (1999-2000 and 4-1 (2007-08). (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The player signed a contract with the Club that will keep him in Barcelona until the 2013/14 season.

“In the 10 years I’ve been here, this is one of the happiest days I’ve ever had at the Club.” Needless to say Marc Bartra was overjoyed to sign his contract renewal with FC Barcelona. Along with his agent, the Barça B defender signed the agreement that includes a 12 million euros buyout clause until the end of this season, which will then jump to 30 million euros until the 2013/14 season. President Sandro Rosell was at the signing ceremony, as well Director of Barça B, Jordi Mestre, and Athletic Director of Football, Andoni Zubizarreta.

Bartra is satisfied with the contract because it means that there are “expectations to reach the first team. It’s a dream that I hope comes true.” To accomplish said dream, the player promises to “work hard” in response to the Club’s show of confidence.

Bartra also took the time to talk about his role model, Carles Puyol: “He’s a reference for me, a role model because of the spirit of sacrifice he has. I hope to follow in his footsteps ambitiously.” (via FCBarcelona.cat)